The Law Firm Anti-Racism Alliance, which now boasts north of 240 participating firms, held its first summit, virtually, from Wednesday to Thursday, looking to put tactical reality to the strategic task of changing the way our institutions deal with racial inequality, an issue that some institutions have in fact perpetuated. 

"This was a tremendous undertaking, with a lot of resources and a deep commitment from a large amount of people," Brenna DeVaney, director of pro bono programs at participating firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, said of the summit. "We hoped to do two things: ensure a foundation for understanding what systemic racism is and identify what work needs to be done and how we are going to organize ourselves to do it."

The summit's agenda included the aspiration for several takeaways: Deepening the  understanding of intersecting components of systems that create and perpetuate disadvantages for Black communities and other communities of color and advantages for white individuals and communities; presenting  the LFAA's mission, role and responsibilities; and developing an action plan to move the LFAA's work forward. 

DeVaney said the first day of the conference was devoted to listening. The summit featured speakers from various civil liberties and racial justice advocacy organizations to help the firms understand the work they have been doing and where the power and connections of Big Law could assist. 

Kim Koopersmith, chair of D.C.-based Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, said that she was impressed by the turnout and enthusiasm for the work the attendees showed, but that they also needed to be mindful of how the racial justice partner organizations work if they are going to be effective in facilitating change.  

"It shows a lot of promise, but that promise also shows the challenges ahead," Koopersmith said. "We have over 200 very eager and committed law firms, and need to see a path forward on how to leverage their collective expertise and experience. But we have to be able to offer it in a way that allows these organizations to advance their agendas."

She said an attendee framed the LFAA as an "air traffic control" of sorts, providing a structure and organization that can direct those efforts. 

"This is a group that can marshal assets that is different from what any single law firm can do," she said. "We can take a holistic approach to issues."

Daniel Brown, a litigation partner at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton and chair of the firm's pro bono committee, echoed the idea that the efforts needs to be grounded in what the racial justice organizations are already doing, and that is going to require detailed structure and organization. 

"It isn't going to happen tomorrow," he said. "If you talk to five people who were there, they will all say this is a movement rather than a moment."

Brown said he was impressed not just with the attendance, which multiple sources said didn't drop below 500 people for any given session, but the seniority of the personnel. 

"This was attended well not just by pro bono and diversity and inclusion folks, but by chairpeople as well," he said. 

While enthusiasm and attendance were high, the participants were well aware of the fact that Big Law has its own housekeeping problems on this issue, and will need to be diligent about making sure this effort doesn't play into the narrative of all talk and no walk. 

"One of the first conversations we had when dreaming up the LFAA was the acknowledgement that law firms have inclusion and equity work to do," DeVaney of Skadden said. "There is a deep understanding to make sure this happens alongside the pro bono efforts of firms, which is why we included diversity and inclusion professionals in the planning of the summit. It needs to be informed by them."

DeVaney said the alliance is planning another summit for the fall, and hopes to have a broader conversation about what needs to get done now that a structure is taking shape. 

"We will bring in more people around race advocacy, some academics and policy experts to get a better sense of the work that needs to get done," she said. 

The road will be a long one. The structures in place that hinder progress for nonwhite peoples were decades in creation, and the expectation is that they will not be changed in a few months, or even a few years. 

"This is not a six-month project," DeVaney said. "This is a five-to-30-year project."

Koopersmith believes the LFAA, which when announced had its fair share of detractors, is on the right path. 

"They have created the infrastructure, and did it well," she said. "Now there is reason, as they are doing, to recognize this is a long-term commitment. But that commitment needs to be balanced with short term efforts as well."